We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
{{short description|2012 single by Taylor Swift}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
| cover = We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.png
| alt = Cover art of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", showing Swift in long blonde hair and red lipstick, wearing plastic sunglasses and sitting in a grass field.
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Taylor Swift
| album = Red
| released = {{Start date|2012|8|13}}
| studio = * Conway Recording (Los Angeles)
- MXM (Stockholm)
| genre = * Bubblegum
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=12}}
| label = Big Machine
| writer = * Taylor Swift
| producer = * Max Martin
- Shellback
- Taylor Swift{{NoteTag|name="Producer"}}
| prev_title = Both of Us
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Ronan
| next_year = 2012
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|WA4iX5D9Z64|"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"}}}}
}}
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fourth studio album, Red (2012). It was released as the album's lead single on August 13, 2012, by Big Machine Records. Written and produced by Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is an upbeat pop song that features synthesizers, twangy processed guitar riffs, bass drums, and a spoken-word bridge. Its lyrics express Swift's frustration with an ex-lover who wants to rekindle their relationship. An alternate version was released to US country radio on August 21, 2012.
Music critics praised the track for its catchy melody and radio-friendly sound, although some found the song overtly commercial and its lyrics subpar. The song appeared in year-end lists by Rolling Stone, Time, and The Village Voice. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" reached number one in Canada and New Zealand and reached the top five in Australia, Ireland, Japan, and the UK. On the US Billboard Hot 100, the single debuted at number 72 and rose to number one the following week, registering one of the biggest single-week jumps in chart history. The single spent a record-breaking nine consecutive weeks topping the Hot Country Songs chart. It has received multi-platinum certifications in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the US.
The music video for the song was released on August 30, 2012. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" won a Billboard Music Award for Top Country Song and was nominated for Record of the Year at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, Video of the Year at the 2013 CMT Music Awards, and Favorite Song at the 39th People's Choice Awards. Swift has performed the song on four of her world tours, from the Red Tour (2013–14) to the Eras Tour (2023–2024). A re-recorded version of the song, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)", was released as part of her 2021 re-recorded album Red (Taylor's Version).
Background and release
Taylor Swift continued working with longtime collaborator Nathan Chapman on her third studio album, Speak Now (2010).{{cite magazine |last=Gallo |first=Phil |date=October 19, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Q&A: The Risks of Red and The Joys of Being 22 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474565/taylor-swift-qa-the-risks-of-red-and-the-joys-of-being-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224174636/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474565/taylor-swift-qa-the-risks-of-red-and-the-joys-of-being-22 |archive-date=February 24, 2013 |magazine=Billboard}} For her next studio album, Red, Swift wanted to collaborate with new pop and rock producers, hoping to expand beyond the country pop sound that had informed her previous albums.{{cite web |last=Mansfield |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Mansfield |date=October 17, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Sees Red All Over |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/10/17/taylor-swift-red-interview/1637307/ |url-access= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221175440/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/10/17/taylor-swift-red-interview/1637307/ |archive-date=December 21, 2012 |access-date=January 31, 2025 |work=USA Today}}{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=2024-01-22 |title=The Number Ones: Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2247416/the-number-ones-taylor-swifts-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/columns/the-number-ones/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Stereogum}} Among the new producers were Max Martin and Shellback, two Swedish producers known for their chart-topping pop songs.{{cite magazine |last=Dickey |first=Jack |date=November 13, 2014 |title=The Power of Taylor Swift |url=https://time.com/3583129/power-of-taylor-swift-cover/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819085008/https://time.com/3583129/power-of-taylor-swift-cover/ |archive-date=August 19, 2020 |access-date=August 8, 2020 |magazine=Time}}
Swift wrote three songs for Red with Martin and Shellback, including "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", which was produced by the three.{{NoteTag|Red{{'s}} liner notes credit Martin and Shellback as producers, but Swift is credited as a producer in the CD liner notes as well as in a list by the Recording Academy announcing nominees for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/55th-annual-grammy-awards|title=55th Annual Grammy Awards|publisher=The Recording Academy|access-date=June 13, 2025}}|name="Producer"}} When the three were in the studio, a friend of Swift visited and told her she and an ex-boyfriend of hers were reconciling. When the friend left, Swift told Martin and Shellback that they were not getting back together. She strummed an acoustic guitar and improvising the refrain, "We are never ever...",{{cite web |last=Effron |first=Lauren |date=August 13, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Reveals New Album, Red, Drops New Single, 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/08/taylor-swift-reveals-new-album-red-drops-new-single-we-are-never-getting-back-together-abc-exclusive/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015112116/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/08/taylor-swift-reveals-new-album-red-drops-new-single-we-are-never-getting-back-together-abc-exclusive/ |archive-date=October 15, 2017 |access-date=August 14, 2012 |publisher=ABC News}} asking Martin and Shellback, "Is that too obvious?" The producers built on that idea and finished the song in 25 minutes.{{Sfn|Spencer|2013|p=125}} The song was recorded at Conway Recording Studios in Los Angeles and MXM Studios in Stockholm.
The track served as Red
Composition and lyrics
{{listen
| pos = right
| filename = We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.ogg
| title = "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (2012)
| description = A sample of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" featuring thumping bass drums, pulsing synthesizers, and processed vocals.
}}
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is 3 minutes and 12 seconds long. The song is anchored by a recurring acoustic guitar riff that features a light twang.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=88}} Driven by an insistent foor on the floor beat,{{Cite news |last=Powers |first=Ann |author-link=Ann Powers |date=2012-08-21 |title=Taylor Swift, Princess Of Punk? |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2012/08/23/159559500/taylor-swift-princess-of-punk |access-date=2025-06-12 |publisher=NPR}} the production features prominent electronic elements—pulsing synthesizers, keyboards, processed vocals, and a drum machine, alongside acoustic instruments of guitars and banjo.{{Cite news |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen |date=2012-08-30 |title=Top of the Pops: Taylor Swift, 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=https://slate.com/culture/2012/08/taylor-swifts-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-is-no-1-on-the-pop-charts-is-swift-breaking-up-with-nashville.html |access-date=2025-06-12 |work=Slate}} The thumping bass drum instrumentation evokes hip-hop.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=48}}
The refrain features a vocal hook that Swift sings the word "we" with an extra syllable, delivered in half an octave higher. The musicologist James E. Perone wrote that Swift's vocals on "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" are both robotic and humane, thanks to the balance between processed vocals during most of the verses and unprocessed vocals at the end of each refrain as well as in the bridge and the spoken word interlude,{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=48}} which goes: "I'm just, I mean, this is exhausting. Like, we are never getting back together. Like, ever."{{cite magazine |date=August 14, 2012 |title=Track Review: Taylor Swift, 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/track-review-taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-1066894/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528161647/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1066894/track-review-taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together |archive-date=2013-05-28 |access-date=June 13, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}
Critics aligned "We Are Never Getting Back Together" with a multitude of pop subgenres, including bubblegum,{{cite web |last=Hogan |first=Marc |author-link=Marc Hogan |title=August 23 – 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' Arrives |url=http://www.spin.com/2012/12/taylor-swift-red-2012-timeline/121214-5-vmas_0/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009123114/http://www.spin.com/2012/12/taylor-swift-red-2012-timeline/121214-5-vmas_0/ |archive-date=9 October 2016 |access-date=6 March 2016 |work=Spin}} dance-pop,{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=Review: Red |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603143319/http://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735 |archive-date=2016-06-03 |access-date=2014-11-16 |publisher=AllMusic}} pop-punk, Europop,{{cite magazine |last1=Maerz |first1=Melissa |date=October 26, 2012 |title=Red – review – Taylor Swift |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/10/26/red-review-taylor-swift/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101141457/https://ew.com/article/2012/10/26/red-review-taylor-swift/ |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |access-date=7 July 2022 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} pop rock,{{cite news |last1=Lachno |first1=James |date=2012-10-19 |title=Taylor Swift, Red, album review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/9618220/Taylor-Swift-Red-album-review.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012044011/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/9618220/Taylor-Swift-Red-album-review.html |archive-date=2016-10-12 |access-date=8 March 2016 |work=The Daily Telegraph}} and electropop.{{cite web |last1=Hogan |first1=Marc |author-link=Marc Hogan |date=August 29, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's New Album Red Will Drop the Bass |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/08/taylor-swift-red-dubstep-new-album/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922023021/https://www.spin.com/2012/08/taylor-swift-red-dubstep-new-album/ |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |access-date=July 21, 2020 |website=Spin}} Steve Hyden, reflecting on the single in a 2021 article for The New York Times, characterized the song as electro-folk.{{Cite news |last=Hyden |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Hyden |date=2021-03-10 |title=Taylor Swift's Indie Act |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/10/magazine/taylor-swift.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413142455/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/10/magazine/taylor-swift.html |archive-date=2021-04-13 |access-date=2021-05-01 |work=The New York Times}} The alternate version released to country radio incorporates a softer production. Perone commented that "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is a musically flexible track, in that its song structure and melodic qualities resemble a conventional country song, but with modern influences of contemporary music that make it adaptable to many different genres.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=48}}
The lyrics are about a protagonist's frustration over an ex-boyfriend who wants to rekindle their relationship.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=48}} At one point, Swift sings, "And you would hide away and find your peace of mind/ With some indie record that's much cooler than mine", deriding the ex-boyfriend's pretentious music taste while referencing her own profession as a musical artist. Swift said that the cited lyrics were the song's most important detail because they reveal her real-life ex-boyfriend's judgment of her music, "It was a relationship where I felt very critiqued and subpar. He'd listen to this music that nobody had heard of ... but as soon as anyone else liked this band, he'd drop them."{{Sfn|Spencer|2013|p=125}} To this extent, she wrote "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" in hopes of commercial success to spite the ex-boyfriend, "Not only would it hopefully be played a lot, so that he'd have to hear it, but [also] it's the opposite of the kind of music that he was trying to make me feel inferior to."{{Sfn|Spencer|2013|p=125}} Various critics thought that the song's vocabulary exemplified the language that millennials or "Valley girls" used.{{Cite web |last=Wisnicki |first=Nathan |date=2012-10-29 |title=In Defense of Taylor Swift and Gen-Y Pop Music |url=https://www.popmatters.com/164733-taylor-swift-red-2495802583.html |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=PopMatters}}{{Cite web |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen |date=2013-11-17 |title=Why Taylor Swift Is the Reigning Queen of Pop |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/11/taylor-swift-reigning-queen-of-pop.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=Vulture}}{{Cite web |last=Masley |first=Ed |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Best Taylor Swift albums: We rated and ranked them all. Why our top pick really is 'The 1' |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/04/26/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/73456389007/ |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=The Arizona Republic}}
Critical reception
When "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was first released, many critics commented on its pure pop production and contrasted it with Swift's status as a country musician.{{Cite web |last=Hight |first=Jewly |date=2012-10-26 |title=Taylor Swift: Red |url=https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-red/ |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=American Songwriter |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726094520/https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-red/ |url-status=live }} A multitude of critics highlighted its hook as catchy and infectious, although this was not necessarily a compliment.{{cite magazine |author=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen |date=August 23, 2012 |title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-20120823 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830051620/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/songreviews/we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-20120823 |archive-date=August 30, 2012 |access-date=August 26, 2012 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{cite web |last=Myers |first=Robert |date=August 7, 2012 |title=Hot 100 Roundup: Taylor Swift's Kiss-Off To Country, Mumford & Sons' Folkie Rave, And More |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/08/hot_100_debuts_taylor_swift_future.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606183712/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/08/hot_100_debuts_taylor_swift_future.php |archive-date=June 6, 2015 |access-date=August 16, 2012 |work=The Village Voice}}{{cite web |last=Copsey |first=Robert |date=August 23, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift: 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' – Single review |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/review/a401340/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-single-review.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924053723/http://www.digitalspy.com/music/review/a401340/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-single-review.html |archive-date=2015-09-24 |access-date=November 19, 2013 |website=Digital Spy}} Robert Myers of The Village Voice considered the single a "commercial calculation of the worst kind", and Grady Smith of Entertainment Weekly regarded it as a regression following Speak Now. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country stated that Swift successfully "captures the anger of young love gone wrong" but contended that the melody was "difficult to embrace quickly".{{cite web |author=Dukes |first=Billy |date=August 14, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift, 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' – Song Review |url=http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021184140/http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/ |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=August 26, 2012 |work=Taste of Country}}
Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine complimented the song's melodic composition but criticized Swift's "stilted phrasing" and vocal performance, describing them "flat and unconvincing".{{cite web |author=Keefe |first=Jonathan |date=August 15, 2012 |title=Single Review: Taylor Swift, 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/single-review-taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826143607/https://www.slantmagazine.com/house/article/single-review-taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/ |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2012 |work=Slant Magazine}} David Malitz of The Washington Post found the song immature and remarked, "the chorus is catchy but if this is representative of what awaits on Red, it's hard to be too excited".{{cite news |last=Malitz |first=David |date=February 22, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift, 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together': It's trending, but is it good? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-its-trending-but-is-it-good/2012/08/14/a076a2ae-e61e-11e1-8741-940e3f6dbf48_blog.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014184157/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-its-trending-but-is-it-good/2012/08/14/a076a2ae-e61e-11e1-8741-940e3f6dbf48_blog.html |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |access-date=August 16, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} On a positive side, Jody Rosen, in his review for Rolling Stone, rated the song four stars out of five. He wrote that the song's "hooks, plural, have a zing that's more Stockholm than Nashville" but it was still "unmistakably Taylor: a witty relationship postmortem, delivered in inimitable girlie-girl patois". In another piece for Slate, Rosen argued that the catchy pop sound of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" could be traced back to Swift's earlier singles like "Picture to Burn" or "Should've Said No" (2006); to this extent, the single was less of a novelty and more of a refinement.
Some critics remarked on the song's tone. Marah Eakin of The A.V. Club praised the production and "mildly snarky lyrics",{{cite web |author=Eakin |first=Marah |date=August 17, 2012 |title=Mourn summer's inevitable end with new Taylor Swift, Ty Segall, and Pinback |url=https://www.avclub.com/mourn-summer-s-inevitable-end-with-new-taylor-swift-ty-1798232988 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003034504/http://www.avclub.com/articles/mourn-summers-inevitable-end-with-new-taylor-swift,83958/ |archive-date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=August 18, 2012 |work=The A.V. Club}} while James Montgomery of MTV felt that the track represented a "defiant, liberated" Swift that no longer "[played] the victim" and that it was predisposed to be a successful radio hit.{{cite web |author=Montgomery |first=James |date=February 13, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Never Ever Getting Back Together': No More Tears |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1691744/taylor-swift-never-ever-get-back-together.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003023406/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1691744/taylor-swift-never-ever-get-back-together.jhtml |archive-date=October 3, 2013 |access-date=August 16, 2012 |publisher=MTV}} Also giving the song four stars out of five, Billboard opined that there was a "sardonic sneer" in Swift's vocals and that the song incorporated "biting sarcasm within her deep-rooted confidence". Glenn Gamboa of Newsday wrote that in the song, Swift still managed to "sound genuine and conversational" as before.{{cite web |author=Glenn Gamboa |date=August 14, 2012 |title=Hear Taylor Swift's new single |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/backstage-pass-1.811987/hear-taylor-swift-s-new-single-1.3904106 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224245/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/backstage-pass-1.811987/hear-taylor-swift-s-new-single-1.3904106 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |access-date=August 16, 2012 |work=Newsday}} In an article for NPR, Ann Powers wrote that "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was neither earnest nor wistful as Swift's early country songs but instead "spins sugar from spit". According to Powers, by collaborating with Martin, Swift participated in a wave of defiant, sassy feminist "punk" female artists who conveyed their headstrong attitudes through songs, though Swift's delivery was still "too callow and insular to really be substantial".
= Listicles =
Several publications ranked "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" in their lists of the best songs of 2012, including Rolling Stone (second),{{Cite magazine |date=2012-12-05 |title=50 Best Songs of 2012: Taylor Swift, 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2012-20121205/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-19691231 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105091148/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2012-20121205/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-19691231 |archive-date=2017-11-05 |access-date=December 13, 2012 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} Time (fourth),{{cite magazine|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/04/listen-to-times-top-10-songs-of-2012-playlist/|title=Top 10 Songs of 2012 Playlist|date=December 4, 2012|magazine=Time|access-date=December 13, 2012|archive-date=March 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329001339/http://entertainment.time.com/2012/12/04/listen-to-times-top-10-songs-of-2012-playlist/|url-status=live}} The Guardian (fifth),{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/dec/13/best-tracks-2012-playlist-spotify|title=Best tracks of 2012: read the full list|first=Caspar Llewellyn|last=Smith|website=The Guardian|date=December 13, 2012|access-date=November 14, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115083441/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/dec/13/best-tracks-2012-playlist-spotify|url-status=live}} The Village Voice{{'}}s Pazz & Jop critics' poll (sixth),{{cite web |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2012/ |title=Singles — All Votes |work=The Village Voice |access-date=January 18, 2013 |archive-date=May 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513132609/http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/2012 |url-status=dead}} PopMatters (11th),{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206065244/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/165966-the-75-best-songs-of-2012/P6|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/165966-the-75-best-songs-of-2012/P6|title=The 75 Best Songs of 2012|website=PopMatters|date=December 3, 2012|archive-date=December 6, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012|url-status=dead}} NME (24th),{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/50-best-tracks-of-2012-779005|title=50 Best Tracks of 2012|website=NME|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=November 14, 2021|archive-date=February 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226163343/http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/50-best-tracks-of-2012-779005|url-status=live}} and Consequence of Sound (40th).{{cite web |date=December 7, 2012 |title=Top 50 Songs of 2012 |url=https://consequence.net/2012/12/songs-of-the-year-2012/16/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421104233/https://consequence.net/2012/12/songs-of-the-year-2012/16/ |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |access-date=December 7, 2012 |website=Consequence of Sound}} The single was named the 169th best song of 2010–2014 on Pitchfork's "The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far (2010–2014)" list.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9466-the-200-best-tracks-of-the-decade-so-far-2010-2014/?page=2|title=The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far (2010–2014)|last=Pitchfork Staff|date=August 18, 2014|website=Pitchfork|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018044009/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9466-the-200-best-tracks-of-the-decade-so-far-2010-2014/?page=2|url-status=live}} In 2019, Stereogum ranked the song as the 71st best song of the 2010s.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/featured/best-songs-of-the-2010s-list/|title=The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s|website=Stereogum|date=November 5, 2019|access-date=November 24, 2019|archive-date=November 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105192557/https://www.stereogum.com/featured/best-songs-of-the-2010s-list/|url-status=live}} Rolling Stone ranked the song as the thirteenth-best female country song of the 2000s and 2010s.{{Cite magazine |last1=Shaffer |first1=Claire |last2=Hudak |first2=Joseph |date=2019-12-17 |title=A Real Fine Place to Start: 20 Years of Country Hits by Women |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/a-real-fine-place-to-start-20-years-of-country-hits-by-women-927482/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218003216/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/a-real-fine-place-to-start-20-years-of-country-hits-by-women-927482/ |archive-date=2019-12-18 |access-date=2019-12-18 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} The Tampa Bay Times ranked it 4th on their list of the best 2010s pop songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/music/2019/12/26/the-best-pop-songs-of-the-2010s-taylor-swift-bruno-mars-lorde-more/|title=The best pop songs of the 2010s: Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Lorde, more|first=Jay|last=Cridlin|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=December 31, 2019|access-date=October 1, 2021|archive-date=December 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229123625/https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/music/2019/12/26/the-best-pop-songs-of-the-2010s-taylor-swift-bruno-mars-lorde-more/|url-status=live}}
Critics have placed "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" highly on rankings of Swift's entire catalog; Hannah Mylrea from NME (2020) ranked it 15th out of 161 songs in Swift's discography,{{Cite web |last=Mylrea |first=Hannah |date=2020-09-08 |title=Every Taylor Swift song ranked in order of greatness |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917054150/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916 |archive-date=September 17, 2020 |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=NME}} Nate Jones from Vulture (2021), 16th out of 245,{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Nate |date=May 20, 2024 |title=All 245 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |url-access=limited |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=June 14, 2025 |website=Vulture}} and Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone (2024), 27th out of 274.{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=April 25, 2024 |title='We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' (2012) |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-2012-2-205364/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=June 14, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone}} Alexis Petridis from The Guardian ranked the track 11th on a 2019 ranking of Swift's 44 singles, deeming it "revitalised – smarter, snarkier and tougher" compared to the "artistically underwhelming" Speak Now.{{Cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=2019-04-26 |title=Taylor Swift's singles – ranked! |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/26/taylor-swifts-singles-ranked |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=The Guardian}}
Commercial performance
File:Connie Smith--1966.jpg chart record of "Once a Day" (1965) by Connie Smith (pictured).|alt=Portrait of Connie Smith]]
In the US, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" debuted at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart week ending August 25, 2012, based on two days of airplay.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/taylor-swift-s-new-single-debuts-on-hot-1007839962.story|title=Taylor Swift's New Single Debuts on Hot 100 – Sales Forecast Grows to Over 500,000|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|magazine=Billboard|date=August 15, 2012|access-date=August 15, 2012|archive-date=December 31, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231083340/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/taylor-swift-s-new-single-debuts-on-hot-1007839962.story|url-status=dead}} It rose to number one the following week, registering one of the biggest single-week jumps in chart history.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480315/taylor-swift-scores-first-hot-100-no-1|title=Taylor Swift Scores First Hot 100 No. 1|first=Gary|last=Trust|magazine=Billboard|date=August 22, 2012|access-date=August 22, 2012|archive-date=February 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213010041/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480315/taylor-swift-scores-first-hot-100-no-1|url-status=dead}} Giving Swift her first Hot 100 number one, it made Swift the country artist with the most top-ten chart entries (11, tying with Kenny Rogers).{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-aug-19-2012-songs-swift-set-203143800.html;_ylt=AkSZ6gtVzJdVNtUlb9DC8gQPwiUv;_ylu=X3oDMTFlODl0a202BG1pdANNdXNpYyBCbG9nIEluZGV4BHBvcwMxNQRzZWMDTWVkaWFCbG9nSW5kZXg-;_ylg=X3oDMTFpMm9iMzh1BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANibG9nBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3|title=Week Ending Aug. 19, 2012. Songs: Swift Makes Digital History|first=Paul|last=Grein|publisher=Yahoo! Music|date=August 20, 2012|access-date=August 20, 2012|archive-date=March 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312162248/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-aug-19-2012-songs-swift-set-203143800.html|url-status=live}} It spent three non-consecutive weeks at number one,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/464885/1000-no-1s-watch-kelly-clarkson-chat-about-topping-the-hot-100|title=Kelly Clarkson Talks About Topping the Hot 100 – Twice|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 31, 2012|archive-date=July 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709114034/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/464885/1000-no-1s-watch-kelly-clarkson-chat-about-topping-the-hot-100|url-status=dead}} becoming the first country song to spend three or more weeks at number one after Kenny Rogers's "Lady" (1980).{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/country/taylor-swift-s-never-country-song-with-most-1007946762.story|title=Taylor Swift's 'Never': Country Song With Most Weeks at No. 1 Since 1980|magazine=Billboard|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=September 12, 2012|access-date=September 12, 2012|archive-date=January 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122083700/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/country/taylor-swift-s-never-country-song-with-most-1007946762.story|url-status=dead}} The single stayed in the top ten for thirteen non-consecutive weeks.{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-nov-25-2012-songs-phillip-phillips-031437247.html|title=Week Ending Nov. 25, 2012. Songs: Phillip Phillips Is 'Home'|first=Paul|last=Grein|publisher=Yahoo! Music|date=November 28, 2012|access-date=November 28, 2012|archive-date=January 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120021132/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-nov-25-2012-songs-phillip-phillips-031437247.html|url-status=live}} On the Radio Songs chart, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" entered at number 25, the highest debut for a song by a female country artist.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/flo-rida-s-whistle-ends-carly-rae-jepsen-1007836752.story|title=Flo Rida's 'Whistle' Ends Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe' Hot 100 Reign|first=Gary|last=Trust|magazine=Billboard|date=August 15, 2012|access-date=August 15, 2012|archive-date=October 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022172739/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/flo-rida-s-whistle-ends-carly-rae-jepsen-1007836752.story|url-status=dead}} It peaked at number three for three non-consecutive weeks, giving Swift her fourth top-ten entry.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/hsb/|title=Taylor Swift Chart History (Radio Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 11, 2021|archive-date=February 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227200157/https://www.billboard.com/music/Taylor-Swift/chart-history/HSB|url-status=live}} On the Hot Digital Songs chart, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" debuted at number one with first-week sales of 623,000 digital copies in the week ending September 1, 2012, setting a record for the fastest-selling digital single by a female artist in Billboard chart history.{{NoteTag|The record was broken by Adele's 2015 single "Hello" (2015), which sold over 1.1 million digital copies in its first week.{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480323/official-taylor-swifts-never-song-sells-623000-sets-female-digital-record |title=Official: Taylor Swift's 'Never' Song Sells 623,000; Sets Female Digital Record |magazine=Billboard |date=August 21, 2012 |access-date=August 22, 2012 |archive-date=May 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528011342/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/480323/official-taylor-swifts-never-song-sells-623000-sets-female-digital-record |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6746355/adele-hello-no-1-hot-100-debut-one-million-downloads-week|title=Adele Says 'Hello' to No. 1 Debut, First Song To Sell 1 Million Downloads in a Week|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=November 2, 2015|access-date=November 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102213233/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6746355/adele-hello-no-1-hot-100-debut-one-million-downloads-week|archive-date=November 2, 2015|url-status=live}}}}
The single debuted at number 13 on the Hot Country Songs chart week ending September 1, 2012, based on airplay alone.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/photos/pdf/2012/country_update_0820.pdf |title=New Swift Single Poised to Make Digital Chart Debut |first=Wade|last=Jessen|magazine=Billboard |date=August 20, 2012 |access-date=August 20, 2012 |archive-date=December 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222155632/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/photos/pdf/2012/country_update_0820.pdf |url-status=dead}} After Billboard changed the methodology for the chart, incorporating digital sales and streaming into chart rankings in addition to airplay, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" ascended to number one for the chart dated October 20, 2012, giving Swift her seventh Hot Country Songs number one.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474704/taylor-swift-rihanna-psy-buoyed-by-billboard-chart-changes |title=Taylor Swift, Rihanna & PSY Buoyed by Billboard Chart Changes |first=Silvio|last=Pietroluongo |magazine=Billboard |date=October 11, 2012 |access-date=October 11, 2012 |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129051129/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474704/taylor-swift-rihanna-psy-buoyed-by-billboard-chart-changes |url-status=live }} This prompted industry debate over the status of Swift as a country artist, given that "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" received lukewarm reception at country radio and never reached the top ten of the Country Airplay chart, and was more favorably received at pop radio.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/6228999/taylor-swift-country-music-split |title=Are Taylor Swift and Country Splitting Up for Good? |first=Jem |last=Aswad |date=August 22, 2014 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 10, 2014 |archive-date=August 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824230029/http://www.billboard.com/articles/6228999/taylor-swift-country-music-split |url-status=live }} It remained on the top spot of the Hot Country Songs for nine consecutive weeks, breaking the eight consecutive weeks record of Connie Smith's "Once a Day" (1965) for the longest unbroken run at number one for a female artist.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/03/27/connie-smiths-once-day-recording-launched-career/99415522/|title=Connie Smith's 'Once a Day' recording launched a legendary career|first=Juli|last=Thanki|work=The Tennessean|date=March 27, 2017|access-date=August 11, 2021|archive-date=September 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912071613/https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/03/27/connie-smiths-once-day-recording-launched-career/99415522/|url-status=live}} The song spent a total of ten weeks at number one,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9552192/taylor-swift-you-all-over-me-hot-country-songs-chart/|title=Taylor Swift Scores 25th Hot Country Songs Top 10 With 'You All Over Me'|first=Jim|last=Asker|date=April 6, 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=April 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416214139/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9552192/taylor-swift-you-all-over-me-hot-country-songs-chart/|url-status=live}} a career best for Swift and a record for the longest-run at number one for a female artist.{{NoteTag|The record was broken by Bebe Rexha's "Meant to Be" (2017) featuring Florida Georgia Line, which spent 50 consecutive weeks at number one.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/how-bebe-rexha-and-florida-georgia-line-broke-a-country-chart-record-253628/|title=How Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line Broke a Country Chart Record|first=Jon|last=Freeman|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 6, 2018|accessdate=December 31, 2018|archive-date=October 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214551/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/how-bebe-rexha-and-florida-georgia-line-broke-a-country-chart-record-253628/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Exception to the country music rule|url=https://www.gulf-times.com/story/615881/Exception-to-the-country-music-rule|first=Geoffrey|last=Rowlands|work=Gulf Times|date=December 10, 2018|accessdate=December 31, 2018|archive-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101003042/https://www.gulf-times.com/story/615881/Exception-to-the-country-music-rule|url-status=live}}}}
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" peaked within the top ten of Billboard airplay charts including Adult Contemporary, where it reached number ten for seven non-consecutive weeks, Adult Pop Songs, where it reached number seven, and Pop Songs, where it peaked at number two for four non-consecutive weeks. Roughly two months after its release, the single surpassed two million US digital sales by September 2012, making Swift the first country artist two have six digital singles each sell over two million copies.{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-sept-30-2012-songs-real-horserace-192228889.html|title=Week Ending Sept. 30, 2012. Songs: A Real Horserace For #1|first=Paul|last=Grein|publisher=Yahoo! Music|date=October 3, 2012|access-date=October 3, 2012|archive-date=November 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112035512/https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-sept-30-2012-songs-real-horserace-192228889.html|url-status=live}} By July 2019, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" had sold 4.1 million copies in the US.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8519784/taylor-swift-career-sales-streaming-totals-2019-ask-billboard|first=Gary|last=Trust|title=Ask Billboard: Taylor Swift's Career Sales & Streaming Totals, From 'Tim McGraw' to 'You Need to Calm Down'|magazine=Billboard|date=July 14, 2019|access-date=July 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715081725/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8519784/taylor-swift-career-sales-streaming-totals-2019-ask-billboard|archive-date=July 15, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all
|url-access=subscription}} The Recording Industry Association of America certified the single six times platinum, denoting six million units based on sales and streaming. In neighboring Canada, the single peaked atop the Canadian Hot 100 and was certified gold by Music Canada.
Outside North America, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" peaked atop the record chart in New Zealand, where it was certified triple platinum by Recorded Music NZ. The single peaked within the top ten on charts in Israel (number two), Australia (number three), the Irish Singles Chart (number four), the UK Singles Chart (number four), Norway (number six), Hungary (number nine), and Spain (number nine). It peaked at number eight on Euro Digital Song Sales, a Billboard chart monitoring digital singles across Europe. The track was certified platinum in Sweden, double platinum the UK, and nine times platinum in Australia. By October 2014, the single had sold over 616,000 digital copies in the UK.{{cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-trainor-matches-clean-bandit-for-longest-running-no-1-single-of-2014/059963|title=Official Charts Analysis: Trainor matches Clean Bandit for longest-running No.1 single of 2014|last=Jones|first=Alan|date=October 27, 2014|work=Music Week|access-date=October 23, 2015|url-access=subscription}}
In Japan, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was a major chart hit, peaking at number two on the Japan Hot 100 and remained on the chart until 2015, three years after its release.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=47}} In January 2015, the Recording Industry Association of Japan awarded the single a "Million" certification for selling over one million digital copies. As of October 2017, the single had sold 1.9 million digital copies in Japan, becoming Swift's most successful single in the country.{{Cite news |title= |script-title=ja:テイラー・スウィフト、約3年振りの新作「Reputation」 |trans-title=Taylor Swift, new album after nearly 3 years, Reputation |url=http://tower.jp:80/article/campaign/2017/10/19/03 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20180221073633/http://tower.jp:80/article/campaign/2017/10/19/03 |archive-date=2018-02-21 |access-date=2025-06-12 |publisher=Tower Records |language=ja}}
Music video
The music video for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was directed by Declan Whitebloom, who had directed the videos for Swift's singles "Mean" and "Ours". It premiered both on television and for internet streaming, via CMT, MTV, VH1, and TeenNick, on August 30, 2012.{{cite web |date=August 28, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's New Video Debuts Thursday |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1692660/taylor-swifts-new-video-debuts-thursday.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029233730/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1692660/taylor-swifts-new-video-debuts-thursday.jhtml |archive-date=October 29, 2014 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |publisher=CMT}} The video was staged like a pop-up book using a Sony F65 CineAlta camera with Leica 25 mm Summilux-C lens in one shot with no editing. It features five sets and Swift in as many outfits.{{cite web |last=Fauer |first=Jon |date=September 5, 2012 |title=Making of Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=https://www.fdtimes.com/2012/09/05/taylor-swifts-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213658/https://www.fdtimes.com/2012/09/05/taylor-swifts-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/ |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |access-date=May 30, 2021 |website=Film and Digital Times}}{{cite news |last1=Motgomery |first1=James |date=1 September 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Wanted 'Never Ever' Video 'To Look as Quirky as the Song Sounds' |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1693058/taylor-swift-never-ever-music-video-quirky/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311044129/http://www.mtv.com/news/1693058/taylor-swift-never-ever-music-video-quirky/ |archive-date=11 March 2021 |access-date=22 June 2018 |publisher=MTV}} It is also the first music video to be featured in 4K resolution.{{cite web|url=http://taylorswift.com/news/94281 |title=MTV Networks to Exclusively Premiere 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' Music Video! |author=Taylor Swift |date=August 28, 2012 |publisher=Taylorswift.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831180500/http://taylorswift.com/news/94281 |archive-date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |author-link=Taylor Swift }} According to Swift, she wanted the video to be as "quirky as the song sounds" and stated: "There's just knitting everywhere; there's just random woodland creatures popping up."{{cite web |author=Mann |first=Camille |date=August 31, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift releases music video for 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taylor-swift-releases-music-video-for-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105222032/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-57504304-10391698/taylor-swift-releases-music-video-for-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/ |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=August 31, 2012 |publisher=CBS News}}
The video begins with Swift in colorful pajamas recounting the events of her off and on again relationship with her ex-boyfriend (played by Noah Mills). The video then segues into Swift going into her living room where her band is dressed up in animal costumes and Swift belts out the chorus of the song. The video then goes to a TV where Swift says "Like, ever." and then to the dining room where we see she returns to recounting the events of her relationship and receives a phone call from her ex who is calling her from a nightclub. Swift hangs up on him and he walks off the screen into the nightclub. It then goes to the two in a truck having an argument and then to them having a stroll in the park. Swift then runs off and we see her on the phone telling the person on the other line how she and her ex are not getting back together and her frustration with their entire relationship. The video then segues back to Swift's living room where a party is going on and her ex shows up unannounced trying to woo her back and she slams the door in his face. The video ends with Swift on her window ledge where she was at the beginning of the video, singing the last line of the song.{{cite web |author=Randy Lewis |date=August 31, 2012 |title=Video: Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-taylor-swift-video-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-20120831,0,4916280.story |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930155738/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-taylor-swift-video-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-20120831,0,4916280.story |archive-date=September 30, 2012 |access-date=August 31, 2012 |work=Los Angeles Times}}
James Montgomery of MTV praised the video stating that the video is "truly a treat to watch".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1693041/taylor-swift-never-ever-one-take-videos.jhtml|title=Taylor Swift's 'Never Ever' Video And The History Of One-Take Clips|author=James Montgomery|date=August 31, 2012|work=MTV|access-date=August 31, 2012|archive-date=March 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314081937/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1693041/taylor-swift-never-ever-one-take-videos.jhtml|url-status=dead}} Jim Farber of the New York Daily News commented that "[Swift's] tone and demeanor in the clip is conversational and sarcastic, ideally suited to simulating intimacy with her massive teen girl fan-base."{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-back-video-debuts-mtv-cmt-article-1.1148445|title=Taylor Swift's 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' video debuts, but sheds no light on identity of mysterious cad|author=Jim Farber|date=August 31, 2012|work=Daily News|location=New York|access-date=August 31, 2012|archive-date=June 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610175545/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-back-video-debuts-mtv-cmt-article-1.1148445|url-status=live}} Carl Williott of Idolator commented on the video's content and stated "what more could you ask for in a visual for a #1 pop smash?"{{cite web|url=http://idolator.com/6861002/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-video|title=Taylor Swift's "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" Video: Watch The Steadicam Soiree|author=Carl Williott|date=August 30, 2012|work=Idolator|access-date=September 1, 2012|archive-date=August 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826023541/http://www.idolator.com/6861002/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-video|url-status=live}} Rolling Stone called it "flinging strong-willed sass".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/taylor-swift-throws-an-adorkable-breakup-party-in-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-20120831|title=Taylor Swift's Adorkable 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together'|date=August 31, 2012|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 1, 2012|archive-date=September 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901113824/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/taylor-swift-throws-an-adorkable-breakup-party-in-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-20120831|url-status=live}} David Greenwald of Billboard stated that the video "is a quirky celebration that finds Swift singing and dancing with band members in animal costumes in between relationship flashbacks – all filmed in an elaborate long shot. Swift wears large glasses and a pair of printed pajamas as she shrugs off her not-so-nice ex-boyfriend, a scruffy, seemingly older musician-type with a penchant for drama."{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475332/taylor-swift-debuts-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-video-watch|title=Taylor Swift Debuts 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' Video: Watch|author=David Greenwald|date=August 31, 2012|magazine=Billboard|access-date=September 1, 2012|archive-date=October 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029055320/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475332/taylor-swift-debuts-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-video-watch|url-status=live}}
Live performances and usage in popular culture
File:Taylor Swift RED Tour (8642419792) (cropped).jpg in 2013|alt=Taylor Swift on the Red Tour, donning a marching-band outfit]]
On August 13, 2012, Swift performed an acoustic rendition of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" for her "YouTube Webchat" recorded in Nashville.{{cite web |last=Warner |first=Kara |date=August 13, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Announces New Album Red In Fan Web Chat |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/eiuhpi/taylor-swift-red-album |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818111209/https://www.mtv.com/news/eiuhpi/taylor-swift-red-album |archive-date=August 18, 2022 |access-date=June 24, 2024 |publisher=MTV}} On September 6, Swift performed the song live at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards, which was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1692158/2012-video-music-awards-taylor-swift-performance.jhtml|title=Taylor Swift To Perform New Song For The First Time At VMAs!|author=Kara Warner and Katie Byrne|work=MTV|date=August 21, 2012|access-date=August 21, 2012|archive-date=February 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204004457/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1692158/2012-video-music-awards-taylor-swift-performance.jhtml|url-status=dead}} Swift was the last performance of the night and, wearing a red and white striped shirt and black shorts (reminiscent of a female circus ringmaster), began her performance in an area resembling a recording studio before taking the stage along with her back-up singers, dancers and band (in animal costumes) took the stage.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/832119/we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-live.jhtml|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Live) | MTV|date=September 6, 2012|work=MTV|access-date=September 7, 2012|archive-date=September 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120909170411/http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/832119/we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-live.jhtml|url-status=dead}} Swift also performed the song live at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2012 and 2014. During her visit to Brazil, she performed the song on TV Xuxa and during a concert in Rio de Janeiro on September 13, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://gshow.globo.com/programas/tv-xuxa/videos/v/taylor-swift-ganha-cavaquinho-e-leva-hits-ao-palco-do-programa/2188050/|title=Taylor Swift ganha cavaquinho e leva hits ao palco do programa – TV Xuxa – Catálogo de Vídeos|website=Gshow.globo.com|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107061147/http://gshow.globo.com/programas/tv-xuxa/videos/v/taylor-swift-ganha-cavaquinho-e-leva-hits-ao-palco-do-programa/2188050/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://musica.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2012/09/13/taylor-swift-canta-7-sucessos-em-seu-primeiro-show-no-brasil.htm|title=Em seu primeiro show no Brasil, Taylor Swift canta sete sucessos e recebe Paula Fernandes|website=Miusica.uol.com.br|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-date=7 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107062028/https://musica.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2012/09/13/taylor-swift-canta-7-sucessos-em-seu-primeiro-show-no-brasil.htm|url-status=live}}
Swift performed the song on an episode of the ninth series of the British version of The X Factor on October 14, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-x-factor/109298-x-factor-2012-louis-walsh-confirms-taylor-swift-performance.html|title=X Factor 2012: Taylor Swift to perform on October 14 live show|author=Josh Darvill|date=October 5, 2012|work=TellyMix|publisher=Glam Entertainment|access-date=December 13, 2012|archive-date=March 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323193025/http://www.tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-x-factor/109298-x-factor-2012-louis-walsh-confirms-taylor-swift-performance.html|url-status=dead}} She performed the song on the German TV show Schlag Den Raab.{{cite web|url=http://taylorswift.com/news/117001|title=Taylor Performs on Germany's Schlag Den Raab|author=Taylor Swift|date=December 15, 2012|publisher=taylorswift.com|access-date=December 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130201215444/http://taylorswift.com/news/117001|archive-date=February 1, 2013|url-status=dead}} On January 25, 2013, Swift performed "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" at the Los Premios 40 Principales in Spain.{{cite web|last=Lansky|first=Sam|title=Taylor Swift Performs 'Love Story' & "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" At 40 Principales: Watch|url=http://idolator.com/7411482/taylor-swift-40-principales-love-story-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together|work=Idolator|access-date=January 26, 2013|date=January 25, 2013|archive-date=January 13, 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160113115635/http://www.idolator.com/7411482/taylor-swift-40-principales-love-story-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together|url-status=live}} The next day, she performed it in Cannes, France, during the NRJ Music Awards.{{cite web|url=http://lci.tf1.fr/people/en-direct-nrj-music-awards-2013-suivez-la-ceremonie-sur-tf1-news-7794990.html |title=NRJ Music Awards 2013 : M. Pokora, Psy et Sexion d'Assaut, grands gagnants de la soirée |work=TF1 News |date=January 26, 2013 |access-date=January 26, 2013 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126223957/http://lci.tf1.fr/people/en-direct-nrj-music-awards-2013-suivez-la-ceremonie-sur-tf1-news-7794990.html |archive-date=January 26, 2013 }} On February 10, 2013, Swift performed the song at the 2013 Grammy Awards, opening the ceremony. She performed the song on her Red Tour nightly as the finale. A rock version of the song was performed on The 1989 World Tour. More recently, the song was performed as a mashup with "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" as the finale on Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour. Swift performed the song on the iHeartRadio Wango Tango on June 1, 2019. On December 8, she performed an acoustic version of the song at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball 2019 in London.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8545722/taylor-swift-christmas-tree-farm-live-video-capital-fm-jingle-bell-ball|title=Taylor Swift Performs 'Christmas Tree Farm' Live for the First Time at Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball: Watch|last=Iasimone|first=Ashley|magazine=Billboard|date=December 8, 2019|access-date=December 9, 2019|archive-date=December 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209120224/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8545722/taylor-swift-christmas-tree-farm-live-video-capital-fm-jingle-bell-ball|url-status=live}} Swift included "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" in the Red section of the Eras Tour (2023–2024).{{Cite web |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |date=2023-03-18 |title=Taylor Swift Eras Tour: The Full Setlist From Opening Night |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/taylor-swift-eras-tour-setlist-1235552488/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=March 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318073358/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/taylor-swift-eras-tour-setlist-1235552488/ |url-status=live }}
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was used as the opening theme song of the Japanese reality TV show Terrace House: Boys × Girls Next Door (2012), which contributed to its huge success in Japan.{{cite web |date=September 14, 2015 |title= |script-title=ja:テイラー「テラハ」主題歌続投 '失恋の歌は国歌 胸を張って歌うのよ' |trans-title=Taylor continues to sing Terrace House theme song 'A song about heartbreak is a national anthem, sing it proudly' |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2059127/full/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108214946/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2059127/full/ |archive-date=November 8, 2022 |accessdate=November 8, 2022 |work= |publisher=Oricon |language=Japanese}}{{cite web |date=April 30, 2014 |title= |script-title=ja:「テラスハウス」初のサウンドトラックCDのトラックリストと初回応募特典が決定！ブックレットの中の写真は…？ |trans-title=Terrace House first soundtrack CD track list and first-time applicant bonuses announced! What's in the photo in the booklet? |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/terrace-house-tunes/news/2014-04-30/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108214947/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/terrace-house-tunes/news/2014-04-30/ |archive-date=November 8, 2022 |accessdate=November 8, 2022 |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=Japanese}} The song and video were parodied by teddiefilms in the style of Breaking Bad. The parody, called "We Are Never Ever Gonna Cook Together," was uploaded to YouTube on October 18, 2012.{{cite web |author=teddiefilms |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_Kd9ZoA6Q |title=Taylor Swift + Breaking Bad Parody – 'We Are Never Ever Gonna Cook Together' |work=YouTube |publisher=Google Inc |date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=April 8, 2013 |archive-date=April 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408102608/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y_Kd9ZoA6Q |url-status=live }} The 22nd episode of Grey's Anatomy{{'s}} tenth season is titled "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together".{{cite web|url=http://cartermatt.com/116922/greys-anatomy-season-10-spoilers-amelia-taylor-swift-title/|title='Grey's Anatomy' season 10 spoilers: More Amelia, and a Taylor Swift title?|work=CarterMatt.com|access-date=6 March 2016|date=2014-04-13|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030650/http://cartermatt.com/116922/greys-anatomy-season-10-spoilers-amelia-taylor-swift-title/|url-status=live}} On September 8, 2012, YouTube star Shane Dawson, parodied the song, releasing a studio version{{cite web|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Spoof) [feat. Wendy McColm] – Single|date=September 8, 2012|url=https://music.apple.com/album/we-are-never-ever-getting/559597975|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=March 7, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402185655/https://itunes.apple.com/album/we-are-never-ever-getting/id559597975|url-status=live}} and a music video on his YouTube channel.{{cite web|title=TAYLOR SWIFT *SPOOF* WE ARE NEVER EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER!|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlxJV8SZ0II|publisher=YouTube|access-date=March 7, 2015|archive-date=May 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514160228/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlxJV8SZ0II|url-status=live}} Sky News remixed portions of speeches by David Cameron to make it appear as though he was reciting the chorus as a promotion for their coverage of the 2014 Scotland Independence Referendum.{{Cite web |date=2014-09-05 |title=Video mash-up sends up independence debate |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/video-mash-up-sends-up-independence-debate-1527157 |access-date=2025-06-14 |website=The Scotsman}}
Accolades
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of the CD single.{{cite AV media notes |title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together |year=2012 |type=CD single liner notes |publisher=Big Machine Records |id=4393000703 |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift}}
- Taylor Swift – lead vocals, writer, producer, backing vocals
- Max Martin – producer, writer, keyboards
- Shellback – producer, writer, guitar, bass, keyboards, programming
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Eric Eylands – assistant recording
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- John Hanes – engineer
- Sam Holland – recording
- Michael Ilbert – recording
- Tim Roberts – assistant engineer
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" ! scope="col"|Chart (2012–2015) ! scope="col"|Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|3|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|access-date=August 21, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="aus"}} |
| {{single chart|Austria|22|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|access-date=August 21, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders|26|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|access-date=August 21, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia|42|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|access-date=August 21, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Brazil|63|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Canada|1|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|access-date=August 23, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="can"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadaac|1|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|access-date=November 24, 2013|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadacountry|16|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 7, 2017|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|3|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 7, 2017|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadahotac|3|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 7, 2017|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Czech Republic|26|artist=Taylor Swift|year=2012|week=38|access-date=October 23, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Denmark|18|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|refname=danish|access-date=August 26, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardeurodigital|8|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=March 12, 2018|rowheader=true|refname="euro"}} |
| {{single chart|Finland|18|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|access-date=August 21, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|France|18|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|refname=france|access-date=August 21, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Germany|21|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|songid=1055612|refname=german|access-date=September 27, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row"|Honduras (Honduras Top 50){{cite web|title=Top 50 |language=es |url=http://tiempo.hn/fuzion/top-50 |date=October 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007003703/http://www.tiempo.hn/fuzion/top-50 |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |publisher=El Tiempo |access-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
| 21 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Hungary|9|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|week=51|year=2012|access-date=January 3, 2013|rowheader=true|refname="hungary"}} |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|4|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|access-date=January 29, 2020|rowheader=true|refname="ireland"}} |
| {{single chart|Israelairplay|2|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|week=49|year=2012|access-date=October 23, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="israel"}} |
| scope="row"|Italy (FIMI){{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/ricerca#/type:artists/show:charts/keyword:Taylor%20Swift/page:0|title=Taylor Swift on the FIMI charts|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=it|access-date=April 8, 2018|archive-date=January 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127045127/http://www.fimi.it/ricerca#/type:artists/show:charts/keyword:Taylor%20Swift/page:0|url-status=live}}
| 44 |
| {{single chart|Billboardjapanhot100|2|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 8, 2018|refname="japan"}} |
| scope="row"| Japan Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=adult_airplay&year=2012&month=11&day=05|title=Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=October 31, 2023}}
| 1 |
| scope="row"| Mexico (Billboard Ingles Airplay)[https://www.billboard.com/charts/mexico-ingles/2012-11-10/ "Mexico Ingles Airplay"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204153138/https://www.billboard.com/charts/mexico-ingles/2012-11-10/ |date=December 4, 2021 }}. Billboard.
| 15 |
| scope="row"|Mexico Anglo (Monitor Latino){{cite web|url=http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/Print/Mexico/Anglo/20121008|title=Top 20 Anglo de México del 8 al 14 de octubre, 2012|publisher=Monitor Latino|accessdate=June 10, 2019|date=October 15, 2012|language=es}}
| 20 |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|16|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 8, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|24|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 8, 2018}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 8, 2018|refname="new zealand"}} |
| {{single chart|Norway|6|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 8, 2018|refname="norway"}} |
| {{single chart|Slovakia|41|artist=Taylor Swift|year=2012|week=43|rowheader=true|accessdate=April 8, 2018}} |
| scope="row"| South Korea (Gaon){{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515192416/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=35&hitYear=2012&termGbn=week|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=35&hitYear=2012&termGbn=week|script-title=ko:2012년 35주차 Digital Chart|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|archive-date=May 15, 2021|access-date=May 15, 2021}}
| 52 |
| scope="row"|South Korea International Singles (Gaon){{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212200933/http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/index.php?nationGbn=E¤t_week=35¤t_year=2012&chart_Time=week|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/digital_chart/index.php?nationGbn=E¤t_week=35¤t_year=2012&chart_Time=week|script-title=ko:Gaon Digital Chart 2012년 9월 1주차|language=ko|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|archive-date=December 12, 2013|access-date=December 12, 2013|url-status=dead}}
| 2 |
| {{single chart|Spain|9|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|access-date=October 23, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="spain"}} |
| {{single chart|Sweden|16|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|refname=sweden|access-date=September 8, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|21|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|refname=swiss|access-date=September 27, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UK|4|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together |date=October 6, 2012|access-date=August 27, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="uk singles"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=August 22, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|10|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=August 20, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="adult contemporary"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|7|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=September 13, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="adult pop songs"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountryairplay|13|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=August 16, 2015|rowheader=true|refname="Country Airplay"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceairplay|21|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=December 23, 2014|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|1|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=August 20, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|2|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=September 13, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="pop songs"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|35|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=September 13, 2012|rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row" | Venezuela Pop Rock (Record Report){{cite web|url=http://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/?i=poprock|title=Pop Rock General|work=Record Report|publisher=R.R. Digital C.A.|date=November 24, 2012|access-date=November 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123030929/http://www.recordreport.com.ve/publico/?i=poprock|archive-date=November 23, 2012}}
| 3 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
=Decade-end chart=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ 2010–2019 year-end chart for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" ! Chart (2010–2019) ! Position |
| scope="row"|US Hot Country Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/hot-country-songs|title=Decade-End Charts: Hot Country Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 3, 2020|archive-date=December 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216073556/https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/hot-country-songs|url-status=dead}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 41 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|award=Platinum|number=9|type=single|relyear=2006|certyear=2024|access-date=February 14, 2024|refname=aria}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Taylor Swift|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date=May 29, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Taylor Swift|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|award=Diamond|type=single|certyear=2024|relyear=2012|certref=}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|relyear=2012|certyear=2012|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|award=Gold|digital=true|access-date=May 17, 2018|refname="MC"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|award=Platinum|access-date=February 11, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|relyear=2012|certyear=2014|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=May 17, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|relyear=2012|certyear=2015|certmonth=1|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|award=Million|digital=true|access-date=June 26, 2020|refname="riaj"|salesamount=1,900,000|salesref=}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|type=single|artist=Taylor Swift|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|relyear =2012|award=Gold|certyear=2013|access-date=May 17, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Taylor Swift|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|access-date=December 19, 2024|source=radioscope|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|refname="RMNZ"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|relyear=2012|id=taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together|certyear=2024|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=April 1, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|award=Platinum|artist=Taylor Swift|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|type=single|relyear=2012|source=artist|refname="glf"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|relyear=2012|id=8879-1598-1|certyear=2022|refname="bpi"|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|number=2|award=Platinum|access-date=May 17, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|relyear=2012|certyear=2015|region=United States|award=Platinum|number=6|access-date=May 17, 2018|refname="riaa"}}
{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|certyear=2012|relyear=2012|artist=Taylor Swift|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back together|award=Platinum|id=6544|type=single|certmonth=9|streamsonly=true|access-date=May 17, 2018}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back together|artist=Taylor Swift|award=Platinum|streamsonly=true|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|certmonth=2|access-date=March 28, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|streamsonly=true|noshipments=true}}
Release history
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)"
{{Infobox song
| name = We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)
| type = song
| artist = Taylor Swift
| album = Red (Taylor's Version)
| released = {{start date|2021|11|12}}
| recorded =
| studio = Prime Recording (Nashville)
| genre =
| length = 3:13
| label = Republic
| writer = * Taylor Swift
| producer = * Taylor Swift
- Shellback
- Christopher Rowe
| misc = {{External music video|header=Lyric video|type=song|{{YouTube|zJFcr1KyFqE|"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)"}}}}
}}
Swift re-recorded "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", subtitled "(Taylor's Version)", for her second re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version), released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/red-taylors-version-release-date-tracklist-why-taylor-swift-is-rerecording-her-albums/|title=Red (Taylor's Version): Release date, tracklist, why Taylor Swift is rerecording her albums|work=CNET|first=Abrar|last=Al-Heeti|date=November 11, 2021|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=November 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120224012/https://www.cnet.com/news/red-taylors-version-release-date-tracklist-why-taylor-swift-is-rerecording-her-albums/|url-status=live}}
Critics primarily focused on observations of Swift's delivery of certain phrases and words in the song. Some noted a dissimilarity between the "wee-ee"s of the original and re-recorded versions, with Olivia Horn of Pitchfork opining the re-recorded "wee-ee"s were more cloying than the original.{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version/ | title=Taylor Swift: Red (Taylor's Version) | website=Pitchfork | access-date=May 6, 2022 | archive-date=November 15, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115143729/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version/ | url-status=live }} Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone stated that the song included "a little extra venom" when she delivered the words "trust me".{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-red-taylors-version-1255956/ | title='Red (Taylor's Version)' Makes a Classic Even Better | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=November 12, 2021 | access-date=May 6, 2022 | archive-date=November 12, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112050416/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-red-taylors-version-1255956/ | url-status=live }} According to Hannah Mylrea of NME, Swift's vocal maturity can be observed in the spoken-word moments, including in the line: "With some indie record that’s much cooler than mine".{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-review-3093107 | title=Taylor Swift – 'Red (Taylor's Version)' review: A retread of heartbreak | website=NME | date=November 12, 2021 | access-date=May 6, 2022 | archive-date=November 12, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112050709/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-review-3093107 | url-status=live }} Variety posed the question as to whether the delivery of "What?" on the track was more or less insolent.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2021/music/album-reviews/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-album-review-all-too-well-1235110634/ | title=On 'Red (Taylor's Version),' Taylor Swift's Vault Tracks Are All Too Swell: Album Review | date=November 12, 2021 | access-date=May 6, 2022 | archive-date=November 13, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113040229/https://variety.com/2021/music/album-reviews/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-album-review-all-too-well-1235110634/ | url-status=live }}
=Credits=
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Red (Taylor's Version){{Cite AV media notes |last=Swift |first=Taylor |title=Red (Taylor's Version) |year=2021 |type=CD liner notes |publisher=Republic Records |author-link=Taylor Swift}}
Studios
- Engineered and edited at Prime Recording, Nashville
- Swift's lead vocals recorded at Conway Recording Studios, Los Angeles, and Kitty Committee Studio, Belfast
- Mixed at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach
Personnel
- Taylor Swift – producer, vocals, background vocals
- Christopher Rowe – vocal engineering, vocal recording, producer
- Shellback – producer
- Sam Holland – vocal engineering, vocal recording
- Amos Heller – bass guitar, synth bass
- Matt Billingslea – drums, percussion, drum programming
- Max Bernstein – synthesizer
- Mike Meadows – synthesizer, acoustic guitar
- Paul Sidoti – electric guitar
- Dan Burns – programming, additional engineering
- Derek Garten – engineer, editor
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Bryce Bordone – mix engineering
=Charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)" ! scope="col"| Chart (2021–2024) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2021-11-22|title=ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=November 22, 2021|access-date=November 19, 2021|archive-date=November 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119060857/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2021-11-22|url-status=live}}
| 34 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canada|40|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2021|refname=Canada2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|41|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Portugal|141|artist=Taylor Swift|song=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|rowheader=true|access-date=February 9, 2022}} |
| scope="row"| Singapore (RIAS){{cite web|url=https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts|title=RIAS Top Charts Week 46 (12 – 18 Nov 2021)|date=November 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123121350/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/|archive-date=November 23, 2021|access-date=November 23, 2021}}
| 22 |
| scope="row"| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/215?dspy=2024&dspp=21|title=Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 21|publisher=Sverigetopplistan|access-date=May 24, 2024}}
| 20 |
| {{single chart|UKstreaming|61|date=20211119|rowheader=true|access-date=November 19, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|55|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2021|refname=Hot1002021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|16|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 23, 2021|refname=Country2021}} |
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Taylor Swift|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)|relyear=2021|certyear=2024|certref=}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Taylor Swift|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)|award=Gold|type=single|certyear=2024|relyear=2021|access-date=July 25, 2024|refname="PMB"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Taylor Swift|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor's Version)|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=December 19, 2024|source=radioscope|relyear=2021|certyear=2023}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
See also
Footnotes
{{NoteFoot}}
References
{{Reflist}}
=Sources=
- {{cite book |last=Perone |first=James E. |title=The Words and Music of Taylor Swift |publisher=ABC-Clio |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-4408-5294-7 |series=The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection |pages=43–54 |chapter=Red}}
- {{Cite book |last=Spencer |first=Liv |title=Taylor Swift: The Platinum Edition |publisher=ECW Press |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-77090-406-4}}
- {{Cite book |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Zaleski |title=Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs |publisher=Thunder Bay Press |year=2024a |isbn=978-1-6672-0845-9 |pages=76–105 |chapter=The Red Era}}
{{Taylor Swift songs}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Song recordings produced by Taylor Swift
Category:Song recordings produced by Max Martin
Category:Song recordings produced by Shellback (record producer)
Category:Song recordings produced by Chris Rowe
Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift
Category:Songs written by Max Martin
Category:Songs written by Shellback (record producer)
Category:Big Machine Records singles
Category:American dance-pop songs
Category:American pop rock songs